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Scanning Castles

In 2007, Gridpoint Solutions were commissioned by Offaly County Council to do 3d scans of Dungar, Ballymooney, Ballycowan, Monasterorois, Clonmacnoise, Esker and Ballinlough castles. Work is currently continuing to make this information available on the web. See Gridpoint.

Reseach - Search for Missing Castles

Research for a publication on the castles of Offaly is being undertaken at present. We have found physical or documentary evidence for around 200 sites. These range from timber castles known as motte and baileys to the towerhouses such as those at Srah and Clonony.  While a number are still clearly seen in the landscape, many of these castles have only a stump or part of a wall remaining.   However there are currently 55 of the 200 castles which are mentioned in historical sources where it is not known if there are any remains or traces left on the ground.  We are hopeful that there are remains of these castles - perhaps at the back of a farmyard, perhaps levelled but the site remembered, or is incorporated into a later building.  In some of the cases, the site might be remembered by the name 'castle field' or 'bawn' for example. 

If you know of a site in these townlands we would appreciate hearing from you. Please email heritage@offalycoco.ie

ANNAGHMORE (Ballyboy By.)

            BALLINAMINTON WEST

            BALLYCLARE

            BALLYCOMMON

            BALLYHUGH

            BALLYNAKILL (Coolestown By.)

            BALLYKEELY

            BALLYORAN

            BALLYRIHY

            BRACKNAGH

            BROSNA

            CLOGHAN (Clonlisk By. / South Offaly)

            CLONARROW OR RIVERLYONS

            CLONAVOE

            CLONBULLOGE

            CLONCREEN

            CLONLYON (Gerald)

            CLONMORE (Warrenstown By.)

            CLONYGOWAN

            CORBETSTOWN

            CORNAGARK

            CORRACLEVIN

            CORRACULLIN

            DERRYDOLNEY

            DERRYESKER

            DERRYMULLIN AND LOUGHDERRY

            DOVEHILL

            DRUMCAW OR MOUNTLUCAS

            ESKER BEG

            FAHY

            FEARGARROW

            FRANCKFORD

            GALLEN

            GLENDUFF

            KILLADROWN

            KILLANANNY

            KILLEEN (Coolestown By.)

            KILLURIN

            KYLEBEG OR BANAGHER

            LEITRIM

            MILLGROVE

            MILLTOWN (Garrycastle By.)

            PALLAS

            RAGHRA, Shannonbridge

            RAHAN DEMESNE

            RATHENNY

            RATHURE NORTH

            RATHURE SOUTH

            RUSSAGH

            THOMASTOWN DEMESNE

            TONAGH

            TULLAMORE

            TULLY (Kilcoursey By., Gorteen ED)

            TULLY (Kilcoursey By., Kilcumreragh ED)

            TULLYBEG

            WHIGSBOROUGH